The title may be a little misleading, this post has nothing to do with me cleaning our house but rather nose picking which will hereafter be referred to as “house cleaning”!  Before going on you MUST remember this is a totally cultural thing and where I grew up the culture’s reaction to house cleaning is different from the one I’m living in.  I’m all for a good house cleaning…in the privacy of your own home, restroom or other private area.  But what I have been exposed to here is blatant, out in the open house cleaning – for you Seinfeld fans it isn’t the scratch either, it’s an outright pick!

Ok, so I understand it’s dusty here and the nose gets, hmm how do I say this, clogged?!  However, when I’m trying to have  a serious conversation with a student and his finger is up his nose it makes it a bit hard for me to concentrate and not slap his hand.  Or if I’m about to meet a new person and their finger has been “cleaning house” and they reach out to shake my hand it’s a bit disconcerting.  By the way these have both happened to me personally.  And don’t get the wrong idea that everyone I see is doing a bit of house cleaning! It’s just the openness of the ones who are which kind of catches me off guard.

Seems to be just one of those things where culture dictates your reaction.  I haven’t heard any parents, teachers or other authoritative figure telling the kids “get your finger out of your nose” or “use a tissue”.  Because it isn’t seen as rude behavior and adults do it, so kids learn by example.  Guess I’ll just make sure I have plenty of sanitizer in my purse and do my own house cleaning in private.